Merlot 70%, Cabernet Franc 24% and Cabernet Sauvignon 6%
Château Beau-Séjour Bécot is a Bordeaux producer in Saint-Émilion, with a Premier Grand Cru Classé B status based on the 1955 classification. The 22 hectares (54 acres) of vineyards have an average vine age of around 45 years. Some Merlot vines are more than 70 years old. Merlot accounts for around 80 percent of plantings, with around 15 percent Cabernet Franc and a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon. Total annual production is around 80,000 bottles.
In the winery, 20 to 40 percent of the fruit is whole-cluster fermented. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, after around four days of cold maceration. Most of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in barrel, spending around four months on its lees. For the grand vin, most of the wine is matured in French oak barrels for 16 to 20 months before bottling. A small component is aged in clay amphorae.
TASTING NOTE
Despite the hail storm that forced this estate to harvest early, the 1999 has turned out surprisingly well. It reveals an opaque ruby color as well as an excellent bouquet of smoke, licorice, new oak, and black fruits. The wine is medium to full-bodied, with a sweet entry, but the finish is short. Nevertheless, this is a very good to excellent effort for the vintage.
ROBERT PARKER – 86POINTS
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